The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1887-10-20
THE OPERA AT SCUDDY.
BY TOM p. MORGAN,

portions. Strangers were arriving
daily, improvements were going on
on every hand, and the little trading
post was fast taking upon itself
politan airs.
Its citizens were jealousy proud of
it's advancement, and the personal
safety of q man who would have dar-
ed to assert that the town was not
booming would have been very liable
to be endangered.
Badgerton was Scuddy's only rival,
the only thorn in the side of its citi-
zens. Badgerton did not exist except
upon the map, they scornfully assert
ed, but for all that it occasionally
made it's presence felt.
The Scuddyites hailed with delight
any opportunity to gain advantage
over Badgerton, and were feverishly
to secure anything that would boom
Scuddy on toward prominence and
discomfit it's rival.
1T was this spirit that caused Jack
Bates to prevail upon the Acme
Opera company to visit Scuddy
Jack had seen this company at one OF
the towns further east, and had
learned that they intended to visit
Badgerton and not Scuddy.
1t was not much in the way of an
opera company, and Jack did not ad-
mire operas anyhow. But, as he ex-
pressed it ''he didn't keer two whoops
in Halifax for operys, nohow; he was
plumb alive to the interests of Scud-
dy, and didn't propose that no one
boss place like Badgerton should git
the bulge on her."
TO have it said that the opera COM
pany had visited Scuddy and had
scorned to appear at its rival, would
be cause for the most profound sat-
isfaction to every resident of the lat
ter place.
BY guaranteeing that very place OF
business would be closed upon the
night of the performance, and that
every person in town and from as far
as the Yellowhammer ranch should
attend. at a 81 per head, or if unable
to be present, should send the dollar,
anyhow. Jack was able to secure the
company. In return the manager
signed q contract to the effect that he
would not visit Badgerton under any
circumstances. If asked his reason he
promised to reply that the place was
not OF sufficient Importance to war
rant it.
Great was the rejoicing at Scuddy
when Jack Bates announced the good
news. A mass meeting was held, and
Jacks acumen and fostering care for
Scuddy's prosperity were landed to
the skies. His name was even men,
toned as that of candidate for the
mayorship at the next election.
When the stage drew up to the COM
bined hotel and postoffice, a few days
later. with a more elaborate flourish
thad usual, it seemed as if every per-
son in the little settlement was there
to welcome its arrival. Bill Hankley,
the driver, seemed to have acq uired a
new and added dignity since the citi-
zens had seen him last.
"Air they thar" asked Jack Bates
anxiously.
"You bet?" was driver Bills reply.
A shout of welcome went up from the
crowd as the door of the stage opened
and the singers alighted. Old Colonel
Darby, whose enthusiasm had got the
better OF his judgment, insisted upon
delivering an address of welcome.
The last to leave the coach was O.
small, pale faced. yellow haired man,
who bore in his arms little bundle.
1t might have been a roll of clot hing
or it might have been q baby.
The yellow haired man was assigned
a little room in the az of the hotel,
on the first floor. He placed the
bundle on the bed. and, softly remov-
ing the wrappings, revealed a baby,
uneasily sleeping and catching it's
breath by 6tiul gasps. It's little face
was thin and burning with fever. It
opened its blue eyes and stretched its
tiny hands feebly toward the yellow
haired man. IL ant d'nk, papa"
the parched lips piped weakly.
All day long the yellow haired man
sat beside the fever strickened baby.
Oftimes his head sank on his breast,
as if from sheer WEAKNESS, but he was
always ready to instantly attend to
the feeble cry of, cant d'nk, pa pa"
oft repeated.
The child seemed to be sinking
rapidly. Its hot breath came and
went in painful futtering gasps.
Often the yellow haired mans eyes
closed involuntarily, but the baby's
feeble wall for water aroused him.
He took the little sufferer in his
arms. and. as the sun sank from sight
behind the distant mound, he seated
himself before the open window.
The soft, southwestern breeze, la
dened with the perfume of the wild
verbenas, gently agitated the inter-
laced morning glory vines that crossed
the window.
1t dallied about the little hot face,
famed the burning cheeks and kissed
the small parched lips. 1t toyed with
the baby's yellow curls, so like those
OF the pale faced man who bent above
it.
The little head nestled closer to the
mans heart.
pered.
1t was only an old fashioned lullaby.
simple, even silly perhaps, but the
tenor voice that sang it so softly elo-
rifed the homely air.
The swift Indian summer twi.
light of the plains came
haired man sat in the dim room by
the open window, and sang old lula
by. The song went steadily on, and
presently the body was still, except
for the feverlsh breathing.
Out in the darkness night hawk
fell, seemingly from the very clouds al.
most to tho earth, uttering as he
turned to begin his ascent. his weird,
booming, discordant cry.
The door opened softly and some
one tiptoed into the room.
paul" a low voice said. "your cue
comes in FIVE minutes. You must &C
now"